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Date Posted: 11:10:05 12/13/03 Sat
Author: Hendrik - 30 Oct 2003
Subject: Re: Yogananda's 'Satan' experiences
In reply to: Kev Hill - 30 Oct 2003 's message, "Yogananda's 'Satan' experiences" on 11:03:51 12/13/03 Sat


Yogananda was never a pure advaitin. He was a bhakta, not a jnani like his gurus Lahiri Mahasaya and Sri Yukteswar. For great bhaktas Advaita seems to be not the goal but rather one important experience which hits them at some stage of their sadhana.

Here is an interesting talk on the difference between 'saints' and 'Jnanis'.


From: Swami Ramdas, God-Experience Vol. II, pp.47-48
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Devotee: What is the difference between a Self-realized soul and a saint?

Papa: A saint is a Self-realized soul, but a Self-realized soul is not necessarily a saint. This seems to be paradox. A Self-realized sould is one who has attained the knowledge of the Atman and he stops at that. He rejects the whole universe, including his body, as illusion and remains apart from the world and its activities. Just as we have got in the dream state a world created in which we move and act, but on waking we find it is all a trick of the mind, so also he takes the wakeful state like the dream state; there is no reality about it; he rejects it.

But a devotee who has attained Jnana still retains his devotion. He looks upon the world not as an illusion but as a manifestation of God. The manifestation is the body of God in which He pervades, and he is active in the world. He says, "I will serve, guide and love all people." The Bhakta moves in the world loving everybody. He awakens people and leads them on the path of God-realization. He loves everybody alike. The saint tries his best to remove ignorance and make men happy by realizing that they are the Atman or Brahman.

On the other hand the Jnani does not work because he thinks: "What is there to work in a world of illusion? Who is to guide whom? Atman alone is. The manifestation is false. The waking state has no existence. To work or love or help in any way is meaningless." So he keeps aloof. This is the difference between a saint and a Jnani or Self-realized Soul.

Devotee: Does a self-realized soul give initiation?

Papa: No. He does not believe in initiations.

Devotee: Has he no disciples?

Papa: Where is the question of a disciple for him? The world is an illusion.

Devotee: Does the Jnani attain complete liberation?

Papa: When he realizes that he is the Atman, he is liberated.

Devotee: What is the gain of realizing the Self?

Papa: The idea that you are the body has vanished and you know that you are the blissful, immortal Brahman, and there is nothing but Brahman. Manifestations are false.

Devotee: Does the Jnani never work for the good of humanity?

Papa: There is no humanity for him; only the static, calm and serene Spirit. He does not believe in past, present and future. He does not believe in form and movement.

Devotee: Still Jnanis eat food.

Papa: In dream also he eats. Does he not? Like that the body eats.

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